In this IronMaster Ultimate Row Handle review I’m gonna cover EVERYTHING this beast does for you.
If you’ve never heard of this cable attachment before, it replaces a ton of accessories around the gym.
With adjustable handles for cable exercises and a space to insert a barbell, this might be the last cable attachment you’ll every buy.
Let’s dig in!
Unboxing
The bar and handles came protected from head to toe.
Everything came wrapped in plastic along with an instructions sheet.
Both handles and the bar are made of solid steel and have a clean chrome plated look.
Adjustable Width Bar
Each side of the IronMaster bar has 8 holes for the handles.
This gives you the option to grab the bar at different lengths for more variety.
Very similar to a D handle bar but the Ultimate Row Handle already comes with handles.
Now you can get rid of or avoid buying all those extra cable attachments that take up a lot of space.
At the top center of the bar there’s an opening to attach your cable pulley system.
Insert a carabiner there and you’re ready to roll.
Right in the center of the bar you have the barbell opening.
Here’s where you can insert your barbell and combine it with a landmine attachment for different row variations.
The center of the bar is angled at 15 degrees so it doesn’t interfere with your range of motion when you bring the bar towards you.
Multi-Grip Adjustable Handles
The handles have a medium knurling, not too passive or too aggressive.
Each handle has a vertical and horizontal handle bar that allows you to use different hand positions (underhand, overhand, neutral).
On the top of the handle there’s a black pull pin that lets you change the width of your grip.
There’s no assembly required, you just slide the handles on to the bar.
From the side you can see the opening where the bar slides through.
To change handle width unscrew pull pins (counter-clockwise) until they are able to be pulled up.
Then slide the handle to whatever width you want.
Secure the handles in place by turning them clockwise before use.
Knurling
The knurling on the handle bars feel good.
Doesn’t feel slippery and it doesn’t dig into your hands when lifting.
Welds
The welds are the not the cleanest but all I care about is the functionality of bar.
Multi-Functional Adjustable Handle Bar
Not only is the IronMaster ultimate handle bar a great cable attachment but it also works with a barbell and landmine set up.
Right smack in the middle of the bar you have an opening to slide a barbell through.
And the handle slides side to side on the bar to vary your grip length.
Barbell Row Set Up
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- Insert the Ironmaster bar on the barbell sleeve before adding weight plates.
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- Position the bar with the holes facing away from the weight plates for pull pin clearance and proper handle grip orientation.
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- Adjust and hold handles as desired.
Cable Machine Set Up
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- Connect the cable to the top center hole and adjust handles as desired.
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- Position the bar with the adjustment holes facing you for proper handle grip orientation.
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- The setup is the same for upper and lower pulley use.
Chain Fly Kit Add-On Accessory
Each Ultimate Row handle has a hole on them right next to the neutral grip bar.
Those on there to attach an IronMaster accessory called the Chain Fly Kit.
The Chain Fly Kit is made up of two D handles and two chains with carabiners at each end.
Attach a carabiner to the Ultimate Row handle and the other to the D handle.
Because you’re mimicking a fly machine, you want to make sure the handles out wide on the bar.
Start wide and bring your arms towards the middle to get a good squeeze on the pecs.
You can check out other IronMaster accessories here.
Ultimate Row Handle Specs
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- Build: made of heavy duty chrome plated steel
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- Weight: 10 lbs
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- Weight capacity: 350 lbs for Olympic bar end use and 250 lbs for cable system use
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- Adjustable: Includes 8 adjustment hole positions on each side of the bar to modify grip distance
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- Bar length: 37”
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- Range of motion: Angled at 15 degrees for range of motion without restrictions
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- Grip diameter: 1.25″
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- Handle width range
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- Standard handle (end to end): 19.5 – 46.25″
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- Neutral handle (center to center): 3 – 29.5″
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- Handle width range
IronMaster Handle vs Flex Wheeler’s Back Widow
The IronMaster Ultimate Row Handle bar functions very similar to Flex Wheeler’s Back Widow attachment and the Back Jack.
They both can be attached to a cable pulley system and a barbell.
Below is a chart comparison both cable attachments:
IronMaster | Comparison | Back Widow |
$149 | Price | $299 |
✅ | Cable machine friendly | ✅ |
✅ | Barbell friendly | ✅ |
❌ | Compact design | ✅ |
❌ | Barbell jack | ✅ |
✅ | Wide grip pull ups | ❌ |
✅ | Biceps | ✅ |
✅ | Triceps | ✅ |
✅ | Multiple hand positions | ❌ |
Pros of the Back Widow Attachment
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- Barbell Jack – the Back Widow has the option to be used as a barbell jack
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- Compact Design – smaller foot print takes up less space for storage
Cons
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- Price – 50% more expensive than IronMaster Ultimate Row Handle
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- Compact design – smaller width does not allow for wide grip exercises
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- Upright handles – neutral hand positions only. Horizontal part of the handles are too small for overhand and underhand grip
Pros of the IronMaster Ultimate Row Handle
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- Longer design – allows for wider angles like wide grip pull ups.
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- Multiple hand grip positions – you can use neutral, overhand, and underhand grip positions comfortably.
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- Price – 50% cheaper than Flex Wheeler’s Back Widow attachment
Cons
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- No barbell jack option
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- Not the best looking attachment but gets the job done in multiple ways
Walmart Everyday Essentials & MAG Grips Alternative
You’ve probably seen or heard about MAG grips or the knock off version by Walmart under their Everyday Essentials brand.
These come in a set of 5 different lat pulldown attachments with varying grips and lengths.
Once again, the IronMaster handle gets rid of the clutter by combining everything into one piece of equipment plus it has the barbell option as well.
Walmart’s and MAG grips only work with cable pulley systems.
Exercises with IronMaster Ultimate Row Handle
There’s a HUGE amount of exercises you can do with the IronMaster handle.
A lot of these exercises can also be done at different grip widths and hand positions because adjustable handles.
Here’s a list of some I can think of right off the top of my head:
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- Lat pulldown (wide, neutral, underhand)
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- Straight arm pulldowns
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- T-bar rows (wide, neutral, underhand) with landmine attachment
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- Cable rows (wide, neutral, underhand)
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- Bicep curls
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- Tricep pushdowns
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- Viking press (cable or barbell)
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- Shrugs
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- Romanian deadlifts
Is the IronMaster Ultimate Row Handle the Best Cable Attachment?
Do I consider the Ironmaster Ultimate Row Handle the best cable attachment?
It’s definitely up there when it comes to an all-in-one attachment.
It’ll save you a lot of room by replacing a bunch of cable attachments and can also be used with a barbell.
IronMaster Ultimate Row Handle Review
If you’re looking for the ultimate cable attachment, this one is legit.
I don’t need all those other cable attachments anymore.
The IronMaster handle takes care of most of them (except for a rope).
I had to wait a month before I was able to get my hands on one of these because it sells out quick.
Make sure to snatch one up when it becomes available.
You won’t regret it.
Check Out The Ultimate Row Handle Here
Garage gym athlete, gym hacks, DIY gym projects, and garage gym equipment reviews
Hello,
Quick question. What is the pulley system procured that integrates with the iron master? I noticed you set it up on the PRX gym and it would be super cool to also have the pulley system included here.
-Joe
Hi Josef, that retractable pulley system is no longer being sold. The company went out of business but any pulley system will work.
Check out the Rig Roller X cable pulley system. It wraps around the uprights and doesn’t swing like a loading pin set up plus it’s easier to load/unload.